The lectures or daily sermons, of that reverend divine, D. John Calvin, pastor of…The lectures or daily sermons, of that reuerend diuine, D. Iohn Caluine, pastor of…

Here in many words Jonah prosecuteth how many things might occur, which might overwhelm his foul with ⟨p. 36⟩terror, and might withdraw him forth from God, & take away all desire of prayer. But always this is to be kept in memory which we said: even that he had to do with God. And truly this is to be marked which the Prophet David said in the 39. Psalm: Thou notwithstanding hast done it. For after he had complained of his enemies, he then again turned his mind unto God, saying as it were thus: what do I? what profit I by these complaints? For men do not only molest me, but thou O Lord hast done it. So Jonah here setteth always before his face the Ire of God, because he knew that no such misery could fall upon him but for his sins, he therefore saith that he was compassed about and again that he was with the deep closed about, but at the length he addeth, that God hath caused his life to ascend out of the pit. Wherefore hither tend these circumstances, that Jonah could not without great marvel have access unto God, when as by all means his life was oppressed when he saith that he was compassed with the waters even to the soul. I understand it that he was compassed with the waters deadly, for other expositions are to small purpose or wrested.¹ And the Hebrews say that they are pained even to the soul, when as they are in danger of their lives: and the Latins say also, that the hart, the entrails, or the bowels them selves are wounded. And so in this place, The waters compassed me about, unto the soul: again, The deep encloseth me. Some translate Seph, the Sedge: some again translate it the Herb Alga, which hath leaves like Lettuce: others translate it a Bulrush: but all cometh to one sense. Certain it is that the Hebrew word signifieth a kind of Sedge: Yea, some think that the read Sea was so called, because it is full of much Sedges and Bulrushes. And they think Rushes take their name of their soon rotting. But what Jonah meaneth is evident, even that the weeds were fast wrapped about his head, that is, the weeds did grow over his head. For it is hard to expound it, as some do of the head of the Fish.

HEre in many words Ionas prosecuteth how many things might occurre, which might ouerwhelme his foule with ⟨p. 36⟩terrour, and might withdraw him forth from God, & take away al desire of praier. But always this is to be kept in memory which we sayd: euen that he had to doo with God. And truly this is to be marked which the Prophet Dauid sayd in the 39. Psalm: Thou notwithwstanding hast done it. For after he had complayned of his enemyes, he then againe turned his mynde vnto God, saying as it were thus: what doo I? what profite I by these complaints? For men doo not onely molest me, but thou O Lord hast done it. So Ionas here setteth alwayes before his face the Ire of God, because he knew that no such misery could fal vpon him but for his sinnes, he therfore sayth that he was compassed about and againe that he was with the déepe closed about, but at the length he addeth, that God hath caused his life to ascend out of the pyt. Wherfore hither tende these circumstaunces, that Ionas could not without great meruayl haue accesse vnto God, when as by al meanes his life was oppressed when he sayth that he was compassed with the waters euen to the soule. I vnderstande it that he was compassed with the waters deadly, for other expositions are to smal purpose or wrested.